Chapter 556 Madam Gu's Test
A few days later, Shen Wantang took Du Juan to Fazhen Temple to keep her appointment with Gu Qianning.
She had been doing quite well these past few days because, just like in her previous life, Shen Guannian believed that she could marry into the Ning Prince's Mansion, so his attitude towards her had visibly improved. Moreover, he even complained that her clothes were too worn out and personally ordered people from a clothing shop to make new clothes for Shen Wantang, thereby bringing him closer to Shen Wantang as a father and daughter.
They even went so far as to ask Shen Wantang if her monthly allowance was enough, and gave her ten taels of silver separately.
Shen Wantang naturally accepted everything without question. No matter what Shen Guannian said, she agreed to it. As for whether she could help him in the future, that would depend on her mood.
Upon learning that she was going to Fazhen Temple to offer incense today, Shen Guannian specially asked Qi Shi to make room for her in the carriage, which made Qi Shi so angry that her face turned ashen, but she couldn't openly lash out.
As always, the incense at Fazhen Temple was burning brightly.
After Shen Wantang arrived, it took him quite a while to find Gu Qianning.
But she didn't rush over to talk to Gu Qianning, because Madam Gu was with her.
Shen Wantang felt a little strange. In the past, Gu Qianning always came alone. Why did Madam Gu come this time as well?
However, she didn't take it too seriously. After all, it was normal for Madam Gu to want to come along when her daughter came to Fazhen Temple. Noble ladies in the capital liked to come here to burn incense and pray for peace and good fortune.
However, this made it even more difficult for her to "get to know" Gu Qianning.
She wasn't in a hurry and led her maid into the main hall to offer incense.
She knelt on the prayer mat, listening to the chanting of the monks on both sides of the main hall, and stared blankly at the solemn and magnificent Buddha statue.
She's already been reborn twice, will she be reborn again?
Is the compassionate Buddha punishing her or showing her mercy?
She had no definite answers to these questions; the real answers might only be revealed at the moment of her death.
Shen Wantang put her hands together and then respectfully kowtowed to Buddha.
After kowtowing, she took Dujuan and went out.
She had just stepped outside when a seven or eight-year-old child bumped into her. The child immediately burst into tears, snot and tears smearing all over Chen Wantang's skirt.
Shen Wantang helped the child up: "Little girl, where are your parents? Why are you all alone here?"
The child didn't answer, just kept crying.
Shen Wantang looked around but didn't see any of the child's family members coming to look for her.
People were coming and going at the entrance of the main hall, and quite a few people were casting strange glances at Shen Wantang. Moreover, they were in the way, so Shen Wantang had no choice but to take Du Juan to one side and pull the little girl to the side.
Shen Wantang didn't dare to go too far, lest the child's family couldn't find the child when they turned around to look for him.
She struggled to calm the child down and was about to ask her name when a woman rushed over and pulled the little girl behind her: "How can someone snatch a child in broad daylight?! You young woman, aren't you afraid of committing a heinous crime?"
Du Juan immediately objected: "You unreasonable woman! It was clearly this child who bumped into my young lady. My young lady kindly comforted her and offered to take her to find her family. You don't even thank her, and instead you're cursing at her?"
Shen Wantang's expression was also somewhat indifferent. She looked at the little girl, then at the woman, and asked, "Is this child yours?"
"Nonsense, if it's not mine, why would it be yours?"
"How old is she? What's her name? Where does she live? Does she have any siblings?"
"Oh! So you suspect me, thinking I'm trying to lie to the child? Well, let me tell you, my daughter is seven years old this year, her name is Yun'er! I have nothing else to say!"
Shen Wantang looked at the little girl: "Your name is Yun'er?"
The little girl hid behind the woman, and when she heard her call her, she peeked out slightly: "Sister, my name is Yun'er, and this is my mother."
He was articulate and, although somewhat shy and hesitant to meet people, he was clearly very close to the woman.
Relieved, Shen Wantang looked up at the woman and said, "Madam, you should keep a close eye on your child. People come and go at Fazhen Temple. If the child gets lost, it will be difficult to find him."
"Instead of blaming others for taking your child, you should reflect on whether you have fulfilled your responsibilities as a mother. Today, you are lucky to have met me, so your child is safe and sound. If you really encounter a child abductor one day, it will be too late for you to regret it."
After she finished speaking, she left with Dujuan.
Du Juan glared angrily at the woman, then looked at Shen Wantang's clothes with heartache: "Miss, your dress has been soiled by that child, and you just put it on today!"
Shen Wantang understood the maid's heartache, after all, in the maid's eyes, it was rare for her to have new clothes to wear.
She gently comforted Dujuan, "It's alright, just wash it when you get back. It's not a very nice dress anyway, we'll have better ones in the future. I'll get you a few more later so you'll have some new clothes to wear."
Seeing her so calm and composed, Du Juan's anger dissipated, and her eyes revealed longing: "Miss, can I also wear several new outfits? Like Peony in the eldest young lady's room?"
"No, it's even better than peonies, and there are even more of them than peonies."
Du Juan cheered, "Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Miss, you're so kind to me!"
Shen Wantang chuckled. What a silly girl, so happy to have new clothes to wear.
The two women, mistress and servant, walked slowly away into the distance, unaware that behind them, Madam Gu led Gu Qianning out from the corner of the wall.
The woman who had been fierce towards Shen Wantang just moments before was now respectfully addressing Madam Gu: "Madam, I have tested her. That Miss Shen is indeed a good person. She is kind when she should be kind, gentle when she should be gentle, and quick-witted when she should be quick-witted. She seems quite intelligent and quick-witted."
Gu Qianning said with dissatisfaction, "Why did Mother have to test them like that? Isn't this just making things difficult for them?"
"What do you know?"
Madam Gu glanced at her and said slowly, "Since we're going to marry her, we naturally need to get to know her temperament. If she's suddenly bumped into by a naughty child, her true nature will easily be exposed."
"What does Mother think of the second young lady of the Shen family's character?"
"She has a kind and gentle side, but she doesn't always suffer losses. Although she comes from a humble background, she is not weak or easily bullied. Her ability to advance and retreat in such a measured way is quite surprising to me."
Gu Qianning proudly raised her chin, "Of course, Atang is of course great!"
No matter how her mother tested her, Ah Tang always passed with flying colors! Ah Tang can withstand any test!
But the next moment, she heard her mother hesitate and say, "It's her face..."
Gu Qianning's heart tightened: "What's wrong with her face? Is she not good-looking?"
Madam Gu shook her head: "On the contrary, her face is too beautiful. Even in a simple blue robe, she looks fresh and elegant, which shows that her beauty is truly extraordinary!"
"Isn't beauty good enough?"
"When choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. It's not always a good thing if the wife is too beautiful."
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